Safety means for fluid-pressure lines.



PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

. G. J. HENRY, JR- SAFETY MEANS FOB FLUID PRESSURE LINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1905.

. line or conduit.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. HENRY, JR, OF sAN FRANoIscO, CALIFORNIA. SAFETY, MEANS FORiFLUID-PRESSURE LINES.

Application filed August 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. HENRY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Safety Means for Fluid-Pressure Lines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The present invention is for the purpose of automatically relieving any excess pressure that may occur in the main pipe line or conduit of hydraulic plants, to prevent breaks or strains that Otherwise would result in damage to this main line pipe or conduit. A

In the practical operation of hydraulic installations, it is often found necessary to i quickly close the gate valve or nozzles of the, water wheel apparatus, thereby checking quickly the flow ofv water in the main pipe This sudden checking of t e water flow results in a water ram, which may reach such a high pressure as to burst the main line pipe or conduit, thus causing incalculable damage. 1

Numerous valve actuated devices have been desi ned to obviate this water ram due to'the sufdenchecking of the water flow, but the'objections thereto are that the pressure must rise considerably above the normal in order to Open the relief valve employed, which when once opened, the hi h velocity of discharge fluid is such'as to maintain the relief valve opened until the ressure has reduced considerably below t 1e,normal, thus causing fluctuation in the main pressure line. Again, when the relief valve is held to its seat by the pressure exerted thereon, the difference in pressure necessary to open the same mustbe very slight in order to prevent a considerable rise above the normal pressure in the main line pipe or conduit. This slight difference in pressure is all that holds the relief valve seated, therefore there is a'tendency toward leakage'between the valve and its seat, and the introduction of the slightest sediment, leaves, sticks or the like, contained in the flowing water prevents the valve closingtight aga nst its seat. Therefore the surfaces are apt to be quickly out and corroded in practice and the relief valve to become inoperative. I

'lhe'object of the present invention is to dispose of the foregoing objections to the use of the existing pressure relief means, at .the

Specification. of LettersPatent.

Patented May 14, .1907

1905. Serial No. 276,262- i more sensitive mechanism for the relief of the excess pressure 1n the pipe line.

drawings, wherein Fi ure 1 is a side view in elevation disclos ing t e safety means connected to the main line pipe or conduit, said conduit being cylinder for the pressure actuated pilot piston valve being sectioned, the relief valve being illustrated closed and the pressure actuated valve being illustrated opened to admit Of the relief valve casing for holding the said valve into its seat; Fig. 2 is a similar view to that set forth in Fig 1 of the drawings, the reliefvalve being illustrated in an pilot piston valve beingillustrated in closed "position to out ofi the water pressure sup ly, into'the piston cylinder of the relief 'va ve casing; and Fi 3 is an end view in elevation.

the drawings.

In-the drawings,the numeral 1 is used to dslgnate the main line pipe or conduit for ceive a por'tion of the water flowing through the mam line pipe or conduit. ThlS settling I chamber or reservoir is referably set at anangle lateral to the main ine pipe or conduit,

tance below the water level within t e pipe or conduit 1. The reason for thus locatin the settling chamber or reservoir, is to avoi the heavy sediment movin along the bottom mg leaves, top of the ing or bein reservoir,

ipine needles, sticks carried at the owin body of water from enter- 0 carrled into the said chamber or the purpose of which chamber or outlet 6, for the escape of water to relieve the pressure, wien the flow of water theresame time producing a less complicated and through is suddenly checked.

To com rehend the invention reference should be ad to the accompanying sheet of broken away, the relief valve casing and the 6 5 of water pressure into the piston chamber opened position and the pressure actuated viewed in the irection of the arrow, Fig. 1 of the water, and 2 is a settling chamberor reservoir'which communicates therewith to rev extending from one side thereof a sli ht dis- 9o portion of tlie pipeor con uit and the float- 9 5 reservoir is to maintain under pressure a.1oo

valve casing 3, within the receivin 405 main line pi e or conduitof an excess water, 1 1o The stem 7 of the valve 5 is provided with a piston head 8, which works within the p1s. ton cylinder portion 9 of the valve casing.

From the settling chamber or reservoir 2 extends the ipe 10, which connects the same with the cy inder 11, the quantity ofv water flowing through the said pipe bein regulated by an adjusting valve 12 fitted t erein.

Within the cylinder 11 works a ressure actuated pilot piston valve 12, the ead 13 of which controls the outlet port 13 and the ine pipe or conduit 1, onto the piston head 8,

through the medium of the settling chamber or reservoir, cylinder 11 and the connecting ipes, which pressureis sullicient to counterldalance the water pressure on the under face of the valve 5 and to hold the said valve firmly seated against the normal pressure of the water flowing through the mam line pipe or conduit.

The e'ration is as follows: During the flow of t e water through themain line pipe 6 or conduit 1, under normal pressure, 't

parts stand positioned relatively to each. other as disclosed by Fig. .1 of the drawings, the pressure exerted against the piston head 8 of the'relief valve being greater than that exerted against the under face of the said valve, and therefore, firmly holding the said relief valve seated. The moment the pressure in the main line pipe or conduit rises above normal, such pressure acts against the ilot valve piston within the cylinder 11, and

orces the same outwardly and compresses the spring 18 on the stem thereof, the said pilot valve being thus moved to close the port 13' of the cylinder 11, and to open the ports 15 and 19, thus relievingthe fluid pressure within the cylinder 9, when the ressure exerted on the under face of the relie valve 5 overcomes the pressure'within the piston cylinder 9, which lifts or unseats the said relief valve in accordance with the. excess pressure within the main line pipe or conduit, uncovering the port 5 and permitting an escape of water through the overflow outlet 6. The

upward movement or unseating of the said relief valve causes a displacement of the water within the cylinder 9, forcing the water back through the connecting pipe 15 and branch pipe 18 into the cylinder 11, whence it makes its escape through the discharge port 19.

It is obvious that inasmuch as only a slight quantity of fluid is required to compensate for the varying pressure on the piston head 8,

of the cylinder 9, or for each movement or stroke of the pilot valve within the cylinder 11, that oil may be utilized as the fluid medium for the actuating of the said pilot valve.

It is apparent that what has been designated as a settling chamber or reservoir 2, may be constructed of but slight diameter, in fact, it may consist of simply a pipe connection, inasmuch as the slow movement of the fluid through such pressure pipe or reservoir will prohibit the carrying of sediment, leaves, or sticks therethrough into the valve mechanism, and consequently the fluid contained therein will bewhat has heretofore been termed clear fluid under pressure.

The flow of water through the connecting pipe 15 and the branch pipe 18, may be con trolled respectively by means of the valves and 20.

During the outward movement of the pressure actuated pilot piston valve 12, the spring 18 is com ressed, the pressure of which tends to force t 1e said pilot valve inward to close the ports 15'and 19, and to open the port 13. The moment the pressure within the main pipe line or conduit is reduced, the pressure of the spring 18 gradually forces the pilot valve 12 inward so that by the time the pressure within the pipe line or conduit falls to normal, the said valve 12 will stand in such a position as to close the ports 15 and 19, and 0 en the port 13, permitting the pressure 0 the water entering the piston cylinder 9 to close or seat the valve 5, and close the escape of water from the receiving cyl- I inder 4, Fig. 2 of the drawings. I

When the pressure within the main line pipe or conduit is normal, the water within the settling chamber or reservoir 2 is still water under pressure. 1

To maintain clean theseats of the heads of the pilot piston valve and perhaps secure more accurate regulation, the stem of the said pilot piston valve may be continual] rotated, so that the said iston valve wil float between the spring and water pressures, and be much more sensitive in its operation. This is accomplished by securing to the stem 16 of the pilot piston valve a belt wheel 21, which is connected to a driven shaft 22 by the belt 22, whichworksover the wheel 21' and the pulley 23,, on the driven shaft 22. This shaft is rotated by any suitable mechanism, notshown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected connected therewith, apressure actuated relief valve held therein, an overflow outlet controlled by said valve, a settling reservoir or chamber connected with the main line pipe or conduit, of connections between said conduit to control the movement of the relief valve.

2. The combination with a main line pipe V or conduit, for water, ofa relief valve associated therewith for controlling a water discharge when the pressure within the said line pipe or conduit rises above normal, of a pilot valve, a settling chamber or reservoir, of connection between the reservoir and the pilot valve, and connection between said valve and the relief valve, said. ilot valve being actuated by a variance in t e pressure exerted in the line pipe or conduit.

3. The combination with a main line pipe or conduit, of a relief valve connected therewith to openupon a pressure above normal in the pipe line or conduit to permit of an.

outlet of water, of-connection between the said pipe line or conduit to hold the relief valve .rmly seated against normal pressure of the water flowing through the pipe line or conduit, and of a rotatable pilot valveihterposed within said connection for regulating 1 the pressure of the relief valve in accordance with varying pressures in the main line or p peline or conduit.

4. The combination with a main line pipe or conduit, of a relief valve connected therewith to open upon a pressure above normal in the pipe line or conduit to ermit of an outlet of'water, of connection etween the said pipe line or conduit to hold the relief valve firmly seated a ainst normal pressure of the water flowing t rough the pipe line or conduit, of a pilot valve interposed within said connection for regulating the pressure of the relief valve in accordance with varying pressures in the main line or pipe line or conduit, and means for imparting rotation to the pilot valve.

5. The combination with a main line pipe or conduit, of a relief valve connected therewith to open on the pressure in the pipe line or conduit rising above normal, of connection between the said pipe line or conduit and relief valve to hold the relief valve firmly seated against the normal pressure of the fluid flowing therethrough, and means interposed Within said connection for relieving the relief. valve of a closing pressure, when the pressure in the pipe line or conduit rises above normal and maintaining the closing pressure for the relief valve released until to normal.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of witthe pressure in the pipe line or conduit falls 

